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Service Members Find Quick Path to New Careers

Service Members Find Quick Path to New Careers

Highline College is one of the initial participants in the Veteran’s Industry Education (VIE-25) program. The VIE-25 program provides short-term training opportunities for in-demand career industry occupations. It connects service members with career credentials during their last six months of military service so they qualify for jobs right away. At Highline, transitioning service members can choose from the following certificates:

Business Customer Service

Business Human Resources

Business Technical Skills

Customer Service in Hospitality

Family Support Specialist

Human Services Initial Certificate

International Business and Trade

IT Database Technologies

Nursing Assistant

Youth Development Specialist

These are short-term, stackable certificates, meaning they can be combined and/or used to earn advanced degrees.

Highline knows that transitioning from the military to a civilian job can be a tough challenge. The VIE-25 program seeks to change that.

The program is a unique collaboration between the community and technical college system, state agencies and the armed forces. It is thought to be the first of its kind in the nation. The number 25 refers to community and technical colleges within 25 miles of Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

Through VIE-25, service members can visit WA Career Paths to explore high-demand careers and access industry-recognized credentials at community and technical colleges within a 25-mile radius of JBLM.

In addition to Highline, the initial colleges are Pierce, Bates, Clover Park, Green River, South Puget Sound and Tacoma. Olympic College in Bremerton is also partnering in the program with Bremerton’s Naval Base Kitsap.

“Highline College is pleased to be participating as a VIE-25 college,” said Tanya Powers, who serves as Workforce and Baccalaureate Education Director and is heading up the program at Highline College. “We are honored to provide pathways that support those who have served our country.”

Initial training is aimed at programs that take six months or less to complete and lead to jobs with growth potential. Examples include homeland security and emergency management, emergency medical technician, IT technical support, corrections officer and computer-aided drafting.

With approval from their commanding officers, service members may participate in programs featured on the website as their official military duty in the last six months of service. Career counselors will help service members access ways to pay for tuition through federal, state and local funding.